An incident in which a 14-year-old youth ended up in court following a violent outburst at school was "highly unusual", Dunedin police say.
Police called to the school found staff restraining the youth about 11am on Tuesday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said the teen was removed from class after becoming agitated about another pupil.
Outside the class, he allegedly targeted three teachers, hitting two and putting his hands around the neck of a third.
He was also alleged to have damaged school property, punching several holes in walls.
The boy was arrested and faces two counts of common assault, assault with intent to injure, threatening to kill and wilful damage.
When he appeared in the Dunedin Youth Court, he was granted bail with strict conditions, until his next appearance on June 21.
The conditions included not going near the school.
The youth, who was known to police, had historic, complex behavioural issues, Acting Snr Sgt McLellan said.
"It is an unusual incident. We don't have that level of violence in Dunedin schools."
The school principal said staff had acted appropriately in accordance with the school's crisis plan.
The teachers were not hurt in the incident.
There were sensitive issues around the youth's behavioural problems, the principal said.
He had received much assistance from the school, where he was in an alternative education programme, but had now been referred to another provider of alternative education.
